Amalgamator



(No Model.)

J. W. MOORE. Amalgamator.

No. 242,469. Patented .lune 7,1881.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application led November 18, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, Jol-IN WESLEY MOORE, of Bellefonte, in the county of Centre and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Methods of and Apparatusfor Amalgamatin g Metals,ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for amalgamating and separating metals from the ore or matrix, the method consisting in delivering the particles of pulverized ore or san d upon a mercury-coated surface, separate one from another, embedding the particles in the mercury*z and moisteningv the matrix, which rises tb the surface ofthe mercury, thereby causing it to fall away, and the apparatus consisting of a moving mercurycoated surface, traveling in contact with a swab or elastic body lsaturated with cyanide of potassium, or like material, to keep the surface of the Imercury clean and bright 5 a feeding device to deliver material to said surface in proper quantity and manner; an elasticy pressure device to embed the particles of ore or sand in the mercury, ajet or spray to moisten the matrix, and an adjustable roller traveling in a trough .to supply mercury to the moving surface.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a vertical central section, through my improved apparatus, on the line .r of Fig.` 2 5 Fig. 2, a front-face view, and Fig. 3 a rearface view, of my apparatus, partially broken away.

The primary object of this invention is to expose each and every particle of ore or sand to the action of the mercury, and to enable the mercury to act efficiently upon each particle. To this end it is necessary that the particles be separated one from another as they are delivered upon the mercury-coated surface, and that they be also embedded in and more or less completely enveloped by the mercury. When so delivered and embedded in and acted upon by the mercury the metal contained in the ore orsand amalgam ates readily with the mercury, and the matrix, being of less specific gravity, rises to the surface. In order to move the matrix from the surface, to which it adheres by capillary attraction, due to the presence of a thin film of water upon the face ofthe coated Patent No. 242,469, dated Jur-1e '7, 1881 (No model.)

surface, received from the race in which the lower side travels, jets or sprays of water are thrown upon the surface.

In order to supply the moving surface with mercury I employ a roller traveling in a mercury-trough, and adjustable to and from said surface in order that the supply may be stopped whenever desirable so todo; and for the purpose of keeping the mercury-surface bright and clean, without necessitating the labor of an attcnd'hnt for that purpose, Iarran ge one or more swabs or elastic bodies to bear upon the surface, and arrange above them vessels adapted to contain cyanide of potassium or equivalent material, and to deliver the same in small and uniform quantities tothe swabs, thus keeping them constantly saturated.

The form in which I prefer to construct the apparatus is ,with ahorizontal cylindricalbody having a mercury coated outer surface, and

with an inflated pressure device for embedding the particles in the mercury, though I do not limit myself' to these precise details.

An apparatus constructed in accordance with myinvention, and in the form whichI prefer, is represented in the accompanying drawings. As shown, this apparatus consists, primarily, of a strong frame, A, in which is mounted a horizontal shaft carrying a large drum, B, the shaft being either extended lengthwise through the drum, or simply made in the form of short axles and attached to or seated in the heads or ends ofthe drum. The outer surface ofthe drum is covered with sheet-copper or other metal having a strong affinity for mercury, and is afterward coated with mercury, as hereinafter explained.

' Above the drum B there is located a slnall hopper, (l, having at its lower side a longitudinal opening running parallel with the axis of the drum, or practically so, and above the hopper O there is located a main supply-hopper, D, contracted gradually to a point near its lower line, and from that point gradually expanded, in order that the material may not pack or clog therein, and in order, also, that the delivery shall be free and not subject to the pressure ofthe mass of material contained in the hopper.

In order that the ore or sand may not flow too freely from the hopper, and that it may be IOO delivered in uniform quantity, each particle separate from the others, a spirally grooved or fluted feed :roll or cylinder is placed under the mouth of the main hopperDand connected, by belt or otherwise, with apulley on the drumshaft or other rotating part of the apparatus, the feed-roll being' in this way caused to revolve and feed out the material gradually and uniformly, the lower hopper, C, serving' merel y to direct the material properly to the drum B. The drum is caused to rotate continuously in the direction indicated by arrow, thus constantly presenting a new surface to the falling ore or sand.

At a point forward of the supply-line, and above the horizontal plane of the axis of the drum B, is located an elastic pressure device, E, designed to embed the particles of ore or sand. in the mercury.

As the particles vary somewhat in size, it is a matter of importance that the pressing body or surface be highly elastic, in order that, while yielding to permit the free passage of large particles beneath it, it may still exert the necessary pressure upon the smaller surrounding particles. To produce such a body or surface I make use of rubber or other highly elastic or flexible tubing, inflating the same, and sustaining it upon an internal shaft or rod ofsmaller diameter than the interior of the tubing, to which shaft or rod the ends of the tubing are closely bound, as represented in Fig. 2. In order to sustain the inflated body a, I employ, in addition to the central rod or shaft, b, an external rod or roller, c, bearing against the outer side of said body, as clearly represented in Figs. 1 and 2, and capable of adjustmentvtoward or away from the drum, to vary the prefsure of the body a upon the drum, or material thereon.

As the particles of ore or sand are embedded in and enveloped by the mercury the metal contained therein is released by and taken up and amalgamated with the mercury, whereupon the matrix, being of less specific gravity than the mercury, rises to the surface of the same. To remove the matrix from said surface I make use of jets or sprays of water, delivering the same upon the outer exposed surface ofthe matrix, thereby overcomin g the capilla-ry attraction and causing the matrix to fall from the surface of the mercury, to which it is held by the water-film, into the race F, from which said lm is received. The nozzles by which the water is thus delivered are represented at Gr, Figs. 1 and 2.

For the purpose of supplying mercury to the drum B, Imake use of a smaller drum or roller, H, the surface of which is covered with copper or like metal, in the same manner as the main drum. This roll or drum H travels or revolves in a trough, I, with its lower face in contact with or immersed in the mercury therein contained and with its upper or forward face in contact with the main drum B, and in order that it may not continue to supply mercury to the main drum, after a sufficient quantity is placed thereon, the shaft of the smaller drum is mounted in adjustable bearings, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In the practical operation of apparatus of this character a deposit is found to form upon the surface of the mercury, which materially interferes with the efficient action thereof. These deposits, familia-r to those skilled in the art, are the metallic or earthy salts, which form a scum upon the surface of the mercury, the oxides of iron produced when nitric acid or nitrates of any kind are present, the salts of copper, &c. To remove or prevent this deposit I subject the surface constantly to the action of cyanide of potassium, or some other material capable of removing the deposit, and in order to avoid the necessity of an attendant for this purpose, I provide a series of swabs, J, of any suitable material, each attached to a suitable stem or bar and lying upon the surface ofthe drum, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Directly above these swabs are arranged a series of vessels, K, preferably of funnel shape, arranged to deliver the cyanide of potassium orother cleaning agent., drop by drop, upon the swabs, by which, in turn, it is applied to the drum.

From the above it will be seen that the cleaning action is entirely automatic, it being only necessary to adjust or regulate, in the first instance, the delivery of the cyanide of potassium, for which purpose valves or cocks will be provided.

An inclined board, L, extends from the bar or support in which t'ne vessels K are supported down to the face of the drum B,to prevent the ore or sand from falling upon the swabs, or upon the wrong side of the drum.

In order to prevent the ore from working out between the face of the feed-roll and the lower edge of the hopper, and in order, also, to prevent the hopper from' heilig ground or cut away at that point, a strip, d, of felt, leather, or other material, is placed along the lower edge of the hopper and arranged to bear upon the feed-roll, as shown.

I am aware that it is not new to construct the moving surface in the form of a cylinder,

that a roll traveling in a mercury-trough has before been employedV to supply mercury to an amalgamating-surface, and that cyanide of potassium and like substances have before been applied to the cleaning of such surface by hand. I am not, however, aware that any one has hitherto mounted the supply-roll in ad- ICO ' fore provided any means whereby the particles of ore could be embedded in the mercury, as in my apparatus.

The amalgam may be permitted to accumulate upon the cylinder and be removed therefrom at regular intervals by hand or by Scrapers, or Scrapers or other devices arranged to operate automatically may be placed in the machine to remove the amalgam from the surface of the rolls. Manydevicesfbrthispurposewereknown in the art before. As myinvention has no relation thereto, it is not deemed necessary to describe them herein. I am aware that a feed-roll and hopper have been combined with an elastic strip located at the rear side of the hopper to prevent the leakage of the material at that point, the elastic medium havin gno effect whatever in controlling the delivery or feed of the material. I am also awarethat the combination of mercury-coated rolls with an inclined delivery-board, arranged to deliver material upon the rolls freely and without means of controlling or regulating such delivery, is old.

I do not claim herein the combination of the mercury-coated rolls and the peculiar feed devices herein shown, reservingthe right to make the same the subject of a future and separate application for patent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. The herein-described method of amalgamation and separation, consisting in delivering the ore or sand in graduated quantities upon a mercury-covered surface, the particles separate from one another, embeddingthe samein the mercury by yielding or elastic pressure, and finally moistening the matrix, which rises to the surface, thereby causing said matrix to fall from the surface, While the metal remains in a state of amalgamation.

2. The herein-described method of keeping bright and clean the mercury-coated surface iu an amalgamator, consisting in causing said surface to travel continuously in contact with a swab or yielding body saturated with a cleansing material, substantially such as stated.

. The herein-described amalgamating apface in a thin layer, the particles separateone from another, an elastic or yielding pressure device adapted to embed the ore orsandin the mercury, and a jet or spray nozzle arranged to deliver waterupon'the matriX,-`as described.

4. In combination with a traveling mercury'- Goated surface, and means for delivering ore or sand thereon in a thin layer, a yielding or elastic pressure device adapted to embed the particles in the mercury, but to pass freely over particles of varying size.

5. In combination with a mercury-coated surface, a yielding` or elastic pressure surface adapted to embed the ore or sandin the mercury, said parts being arranged to travel one in relation to the other.

6. In combination with a mercury-'coated surface, an inflated exible bodyT arranged to bear upon said surface, as and for the purpose set forth.

7 1n colnbination with amercury-coated surface and an inflated flexible body arranged to bear upon said surface, a supporting bar or roll placed against the outersideof and adapted to sustain said body, as described.

S. In combination with a traveling mercurycoated surface, a supply-roller traveling in a mercury-trough and adjustable to and from said surface, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, with a mercury-coated surface, of a reservoir to contain a eleansing- JOHN WESLEY MOORE.

Witnesses:

JNO. P. HARRIs, H. K. HICKS. 

